Unit 6 Review Cycle 4

Mahatma Gandhi

1. Lawyer and activist Mahatma Gandhi spent his life advocating for his fellow Indians. Rather than resorting to aggression against others, however, Gandhi instead practiced civil disobedience to bring about positive changes in society.

A Desire for Change

2. Gandhi was born in India in 1869. At the time, the country was under British rule. In 1888, after finishing his studies in India, Gandhi decided to attend law school in England. Upon his arrival, Gandhi found it difficult to adapt to life in London. His English needed improvement, and his vegetarianism—part of the Hindu faith he practiced—was unusual to Londoners. Though Gandhi was often embarrassed by his differences, he held fast to his beliefs. Life in London also exposed Gandhi to social and political ideas that would eventually influence his own beliefs.

3. In 1891, Gandhi returned to India, only to find that his mother had died in his absence. Further compounding his despair was his inability to find proper work in India. So, in 1893, Gandhi accepted a position in South Africa. There, Gandhi, like other Indians in South Africa, faced discrimination and racism. Though the experience was unpleasant, it also spurred Gandhi to fight back. At the end of his year-long work contract, just as he was about to leave South Africa, Gandhi suddenly made the decision to stay. He wanted to help defend the rights of his fellow Indians. Gandhi spent the next 20 years in South Africa devoted to this cause, opposing discrimination against Indians.

4. In 1914, Gandhi returned to India. He wanted to assist poor farmers and workers who were being heavily taxed and discriminated against. He also wanted to help relieve poverty, improve conditions for women, and end caste-system discrimination against people considered to be of a lower status.

Civil Disobedience Leaves its Mark

5. Ultimately, Gandhi hoped to bring self-rule to India and to end British imperialism in his country. To achieve this, he administered a civil disobedience campaign from 1919 to 1922. During this time, he promoted nonviolent noncooperation with the British government by encouraging Indians to boycott British-run institutions. In 1922, he was arrested for sedition, or encouraging rebellion against the state. Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1924 due to his poor health. Later that same year, Gandhi fasted, or refused to eat, for three weeks . He wanted to call greater attention to the practice of nonviolence in response to warring between Muslims and Hindus in India.

6. Gandhi was jailed again in 1930 when he led a march to the sea. He defied British salt laws by picking up a handful of natural salt at the seashore. Gandhi encouraged others to do the same. Salt laws placed hefty taxes on salt. They also prevented Indians from producing or selling the seasoning. Since picking up salt was considered production, Gandhi’s act was illegal.

7. Despite his arrest, this example of civil disobedience nonetheless led to further discussions with Britain about Indian independence. In 1931, Gandhi traveled to London to attend a conference with the British, but he was arrested again when he returned to India.

8. In 1932, while still imprisoned, Gandhi began another fast to protest the British government’s discriminatory treatment of so-called “untouchables.” The untouchables were members of the lower classes of Indian society. Throughout the mid-1930s, Gandhi focused his efforts on improving the economic conditions and education of the peasantry and those in rural India.

9. In 1947, Gandhi’s dream of self-rule was finally realized. That year, India at last achieved independence from Britain. Unfortunately, Gandhi died just one year later, in 1948, at the hands of a fanatic. Despite his tragic death, Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolent civil disobedience live on. His lessons continue to guide countless others in their quest to overcome injustices in society.

Which sentence from Passage 1 best supports the central idea that

though Gandhi faced many challenges, he stayed true to his ideals?

• “At the time, the country was under British rule.” (paragraph 2)

• “Upon his arrival, Gandhi found it difficult to adapt to life in London.” (paragraph 2)

• “Further compounding his despair was his inability to find proper work in India.” (paragraph 3)

• “Though the experience was unpleasant, it also spurred Gandhi to fight back.” (paragraph 3)

Read the sentence from the passage.

Rather than resorting to aggression against others, however, Gandhi instead practiced civil disobedience to bring about positive changes in society. (paragraph 1)

What effect does the word civil have on the reader’s understanding about Gandhi’s disobedience?

• It has a negative effect because it shows that it was imitated by others.

• It has a positive effect because it shows that it was helpful to his cause.

• It has a negative effect because it shows that it was not effective.

• It has a positive effect because it shows that it was polite or orderly.

Mahatma Gandhi

1. Lawyer and activist Mahatma Gandhi spent his life advocating for his fellow Indians. Rather than resorting to aggression against others, however, Gandhi instead practiced civil disobedience to bring about positive changes in society.

A Desire for Change

2. Gandhi was born in India in 1869. At the time, the country was under British rule. In 1888, after finishing his studies in India, Gandhi decided to attend law school in England. Upon his arrival, Gandhi found it difficult to adapt to life in London. His English needed improvement, and his vegetarianism—part of the Hindu faith he practiced—was unusual to Londoners. Though Gandhi was often embarrassed by his differences, he held fast to his beliefs. Life in London also exposed Gandhi to social and political ideas that would eventually influence his own beliefs.

3. In 1891, Gandhi returned to India, only to find that his mother had died in his absence. Further compounding his despair was his inability to find proper work in India. So, in 1893, Gandhi accepted a position in South Africa. There, Gandhi, like other Indians in South Africa, faced discrimination and racism. Though the experience was unpleasant, it also spurred Gandhi to fight back. At the end of his year-long work contract, just as he was about to leave South Africa, Gandhi suddenly made the decision to stay. He wanted to help defend the rights of his fellow Indians. Gandhi spent the next 20 years in South Africa devoted to this cause, opposing discrimination against Indians.

4. In 1914, Gandhi returned to India. He wanted to assist poor farmers and workers who were being heavily taxed and discriminated against. He also wanted to help relieve poverty, improve conditions for women, and end caste-system discrimination against people considered to be of a lower status.

Civil Disobedience Leaves its Mark

5. Ultimately, Gandhi hoped to bring self-rule to India and to end British imperialism in his country. To achieve this, he administered a civil disobedience campaign from 1919 to 1922. During this time, he promoted nonviolent noncooperation with the British government by encouraging Indians to boycott British-run institutions. In 1922, he was arrested for sedition, or encouraging rebellion against the state. Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1924 due to his poor health. Later that same year, Gandhi fasted, or refused to eat, for three weeks . He wanted to call greater attention to the practice of nonviolence in response to warring between Muslims and Hindus in India.

6. Gandhi was jailed again in 1930 when he led a march to the sea. He defied British salt laws by picking up a handful of natural salt at the seashore. Gandhi encouraged others to do the same. Salt laws placed hefty taxes on salt. They also prevented Indians from producing or selling the seasoning. Since picking up salt was considered production, Gandhi’s act was illegal.

7. Despite his arrest, this example of civil disobedience nonetheless led to further discussions with Britain about Indian independence. In 1931, Gandhi traveled to London to attend a conference with the British, but he was arrested again when he returned to India.

8. In 1932, while still imprisoned, Gandhi began another fast to protest the British government’s discriminatory treatment of so-called “untouchables.” The untouchables were members of the lower classes of Indian society. Throughout the mid-1930s, Gandhi focused his efforts on improving the economic conditions and education of the peasantry and those in rural India.

9. In 1947, Gandhi’s dream of self-rule was finally realized. That year, India at last achieved independence from Britain. Unfortunately, Gandhi died just one year later, in 1948, at the hands of a fanatic. Despite his tragic death, Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolent civil disobedience live on. His lessons continue to guide countless others in their quest to overcome injustices in society.

Select two details that develop the central idea that Gandhi believed British laws were unfair to the citizens of India?

• “Upon his arrival, Gandhi found it difficult to adapt to life in London.” (paragraph 2)

• “At the end of his year-long work contract, just as he was about to leave South Africa, Gandhi suddenly made the decision to stay.” (paragraph 3)

• “During this time, he promoted nonviolent noncooperation with the British government by encouraging Indians to boycott British-run institutions.” (paragraph 5)

• “He defied British salt laws by picking up a handful of natural salt at the seashore.” (paragraph 6)

• “Unfortunately, Gandhi died just one year later, in 1948, at the hands of a fanatic.” (paragraph 9)

A Movement Is Born

1. “But Dad,” said Hardeep, “this march that Mahatma Gandhi is doing is so important. It’s imperative we show the British that India is our country and end their imperialism.”

2. Hardeep had been arguing with his parents for days about the Salt March, and his frustration was growing. He yearned to join the march when it reached his town, but his parents were opposed to it, so his hands were tied. He felt that they just didn’t understand how significant the march was for India.

3. As India was part of the British Empire, Britain made their laws—and those laws were what was best for Britain, not what was best for India. The Salt Act of 1882, which is what Gandhi was protesting, was completely unreasonable because it made it illegal for anyone to gather, produce, or sell salt except for the British. So, the Indians could not collect their own salt from their own country; rather, they had to buy salt from the British and pay a salt tax.

4. Gandhi had departed the Indian town of Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930 and was headed down south to the coastal village of Dandi on the Indian Ocean. His plan was to harvest some salt from the marshes at the ocean’s edge. The protest had started with less than eighty people, and now, Hardeep had heard, there were thousands. Gandhi spoke in the villages he walked through and encouraged people to join him.

5. “Son,” said Hardeep’s father, “this is not your march.”

6. “It is our march, Dad,” replied Hardeep. “This is for every Indian because we all need salt.”

7. His dad responded, “But why do you need to fight for it?”

8. “This isn’t fighting. It’s a satyagraha—a civil disobedience, a non-violent protest,” Hardeep explained. “Gandhi doesn’t want us to engage in any type of fight at all. We are just to take what is rightfully ours without any violence whatsoever.”

9. When Gandhi reached their village the next day, Hardeep’s parents reluctantly told their son he was free to join the movement if he chose to do so. They listened to what Gandhi had to say, and it did make sense. It didn’t seem right that they were being taxed on salt by the British since it was something that they could harvest themselves.

10. Hardeep’s heart beat a little faster and his eyes shined a little brighter as he joined the march. Even though the days were long and hard, as they walked about 12 miles a day, he was invigorated by the knowledge that he was doing what was right. And Hardeep was not alone, because by the time they reached the Indian Ocean on April 6th, the crowd was tens of thousands strong.

11. As Hardeep witnessed Gandhi extracting a piece of salt from the water, his eyes welled up with tears. He recognized that this simple, yet illegal, act was momentous. By doing it with thousands of countrymen by his side, Gandhi signaled to the British that their rule was tolerable no longer.

Read paragraph 11.

As Hardeep witnessed Gandhi extracting a piece of salt from the water, his eyes welled up with tears. He recognized that this simple, yet illegal, act was momentous. By doing it with thousands of countrymen by his side, Gandhi signaled to the British that their rule was tolerable no longer.

Which word is an antonym for momentous as it is used in the text?

• simple

• illegal

• tolerable

• dedicated

Read the sentence from paragraph 9,

When Gandhi reached their village the next day, Hardeep’s parents reluctantly told their son he was free to join the movement if he chose to do so.

What is the effect of the word reluctantly on the description of Hardeep’s parents’ decision to let him attend the march?

• It has a positive effect, as it shows that his parents finally understood why he wanted to attend the salt march.

• It has a positive effect, as it shows that his parents have also decided to join the salt march with him that day.

• It has a negative effect, as it shows that his parents are still confused about why he supports Gandhi’s mission.

• It has a negative effect, as it shows that his parents still don’t want him to attend, even though they are allowing him to go

How does the author develop the theme “one person can inspire countless others”?

• by describing the increasing number of people joining the march as well as the actions of Gandhi and the crowd at the ocean

• by showing that once Hardeep was able to explain himself to his parents, they also made the decision to join in Gandhi’s mission

• by providing examples of how Gandhi was able to help so many people through his actions and inspiration in India

• by explaining how Hardeep became an important part of the movement by joining Gandhi’s march and spreading his message

The author's purpose to provide readers with information about Gandhi’s life that led him to become a powerful force of change was found in...

• Passage 1

  (Mahatma Gandhi)

• Passage 2 (A Movement is Born)

• Both Passage 1 and 2

The author's purpose to show readers how much people were willing to do in order to support or fight for Gandhi’s cause was found in...

• Passage 1

  (Mahatma Gandhi)

• Passage 2 (A Movement is Born)

• Both Passage 1 and 2

The author's purpose To give readers a first-hand account of what it was like to follow Gandhi was found in...

• Passage 1

  (Mahatma Gandhi)

• Passage 2 (A Movement is Born)

• Both Passage 1 and 2

How do the purposes of “A Movement Is Born” impact the presentation of information?

• The author’s purpose is to educate readers about the life of Gandhi and the events that led to his successful campaign to free India from British rule. In order to support this purpose, the author provides readers information about Gandhi’s life, including what inspired him to lead a movement.

• The author’s purpose is to give readers a glimpse into the perspective of someone living during that time. In order to support this purpose, the author focuses on one single event - the salt march. This allows the author to focus on one event that Gandhi led while describing the reaction of Hardeep to being able to witness it firsthand.

• The author’s purpose is to persuade readers to use non-violent protests whenever they have the opportunity. In order to support that purpose, the author focuses on explaining the Salt Act of 1892

• The author’s purpose is to argue why a peaceful protest is to entertain readers about Hardeep's adventures. In order to support that purpose the author focuses on Hardeep's disagreement with his family.